Many of the police are wearing body armour and have plastic quick-cuffs. We're being filmed by at least three different police cameras and although the police are not being aggressive this time, their whole presence is just a bit over the top.

While we were standing in the middle of this strange looking police circle a few dozen fellow protestors chatted and gave out leaflets about the hundreds of animals that suffer in experiments every day at Huntingdon Life Sciences (such a sick name for it) as well getting petition signatures. Bemused passers by joined us in asking the police why there were so many of them blocking off the street.

...later... comical scene as the large police circle of 60 officers remains intact while the numbers of protestors sitting in the middle of it has dwindled to five! Everyone else is now on the outside of their cordon chatting and looking in - a minute later and the police realise they look really stupid, form into lines and march off, leaving about 20 behind including 3 of the surveillance team - 2 with video cameras and one with a huge looking stills camera.

A succesful afternoon as we drift away into the crowds - we'll be back.

sarah.